Technical and Buildings Manager

You’ll report to the Theatre Director and be responsible for the Technical Team and Maintenance Supervisor. You’ll also work closely with all Heads of Department, venue business management and central department colleagues (particularly Technical Operations, Risk Management and Property & Facilities). You will be working at the Grand Opera House York, a venue reaching its 125th anniversary, with an exceptional programme of shows including West End Musicals, Plays, Comedy, Dance, Music and Local Events, alongside its annual Pantomime.

The Technical & Buildings Manager will maintain a cohesive, efficient, cost-effective and robust operational, technical and facilities maintenance structure at the theatre. They will ensure a high standard of day-to-day technical service, safety and welfare management, alongside property and facilities management, whilst always keeping customers, the production and events at the heart of what they do. This will be achieved through effective management and leadership, excellent planning, budget management, and efficient scheduling of the theatre team. Please note, your role may involve working with children or vulnerable people.

Key responsibilities

• Take the lead role in ensuring a cohesive, efficient, cost-effective, and robust technical and maintenance structure for the venue.
• Act as the main point of contact for Producers, Tour Managers and Contractors ensuring all visitors and companies receive the highest standards of customer service.
• Manage the implementation, monitoring and cultural approach to workplace safety and compliance across all the technical operations ensuring the business meets its requirements in accordance with Health & Safety at Work Regulations (1999) for venue employees, visiting companies, and third-party contractors.
• Play an active role in the venue senior management team participating in management meetings and contributing to the overall success of business.
• Manage building and technical expenditure and projects, and to ensure the building is presented to the highest standard day-to-day.
• Liaise and align work with ATG’s central Operations team consisting of Property, Technical, Facilities, Risk and Procurement.

Technical

• Take the lead on all technical matters ensuring that all visiting companies receive a full technical service and that all shows, and events are presented to audiences at the highest standard possible.
• Lead the technical staff which will require an amount of time working on stage as an active member of the technical team.
• Work closely with colleagues in the building delivering events that sit in addition to the theatrical calendar, such as the Theatre Manager on private events and hires delivery as well as ATGE Inspire (Creative Learning) activities.
• Plan as far ahead as possible ensuring all technical personnel are scheduled efficiently and effectively and produce and approve rosters in good time.
• Ensure budgets are met and all regulations and good practice adhered to.
• Play an active role in ATGE-wide technical, production and health and safety activities.

Safety, Health, Welfare

• Work with the Theatre Director and other senior management to ensure all operations and procedures within the theatre meet current legislation, industry best working practices, and ATGE policies.
• Ensure all relevant processes are completed to an appropriate standard and documented to protect the company’s interests.
• Ensure the building, permanent and temporary installations and loose equipment is tested and inspected in accordance with relevant legislation, best practice, and ATGE guidance.
• Lead on the development and monitoring of risk assessments relating to the building, plant, and technical operations.
• Ensure that suitable levels of competencies for staff and third parties can be demonstrated for any works being undertaken.

Budget and Finance

• Along with the Theatre Director prepare all budgets relating to your areas of operation and then ensure that these budgets are achieved, reviewed regularly, and reported on.
• Be responsible for all purchases and investment relating to the building, facilities, and technical works.
• Ensure that materials and services required by the technical and maintenance team are ordered in accordance with the company’s approved procedures, supplying information for accounts and calculating contra charges.

Maintenance and Facilities Management

• Ensure that the property, soft & hard services, plant, and equipment relating to the venue is maintained, tested, inspected, and presented to the highest standard.
• Align with group policies and procedures on day-to-day planned and preventative maintenance.
• Prepare and update maintenance plans to facilitate the planning of investment across the venue; align with group contracts and centralised policies and procedures across technical, FM, property, and risk.
• Project manage and/or support the delivery of repair/capital investment projects along with Theatre Director, ATGE property team, head of FM or head of technical operations as appropriate.

Staff Development, Training and Communication

• Develop a skilled, cohesive, and motivated team by ensuring high standards of recruitment, communication, development, and training.
• Recruit, train, appraise and manage your team to ensure business and individual objectives are achieved.
• Lead on all other personnel matters relating to your team.
• Ensure all ATGE’s HR policies and procedures are met and implemented.
• In conjunction with the Venue Administrator, ensure all personnel changes or updates for the BOH employees are processed in accordance with the company’s procedures.
• Co-ordinate timesheets (and relevant ATGE systems), ensuring that they are correct and ready for processing by the Administrator.
• To ensure the timesheets adhere to agreed (and costed) staffing calls.
• Set up regular team meetings to ensure the team is well informed and motivated. To also communicate company information, procedures, and goals.

Your skills, qualities, and experience. If you can demonstrate many of the essential skills, qualities and experience we encourage you to apply. We welcome transferable skills from other industries. We are able to provide training where necessary.